Why the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport is the Best Honda in Years originally appeared on Autoblog.
The Honda Passport doesn’t have a rich history or a long life span
The Passport was discontinued in 2002 after the second generation, only to be brought back in 2019 for a third generation after a long hiatus. For 2026, there’s a completely new Passport as the fourth generation debuts, showcasing why it is the best version of this SUV ever and may challenge the entire Honda SUV lineup as the best of the rest.
Honda’s SUV lineup is stout
Honda has made a name for itself with competitive offerings in most of the SUV and crossover segments. Names like CR-V and Pilot have been money-making stalwarts for Honda for quite a while. Meanwhile, the Passport has come and gone and now is back and better than ever. When you compare this new Passport to its siblings, it seems to stand the tallest, metaphorically of course.
Against the CR-V and HR-V, the Passport is not even in the same discussion, as these are two smaller SUVs that are fundamentally different. The CR-V and HR-V are meant to be daily drivers in urban environments and are best used as light-duty family haulers. The Passport, and especially the TrailSport, offers significantly more ground clearance, a more robust all-wheel-drive system, and a larger, more powerful V6 engine. This makes the TrailSport far more suitable for towing, carrying heavier loads, and tackling unpaved roads or moderate trails that would challenge or deter the smaller crossovers.
Its closest Honda rival is the Pilot, which is an all-around fine SUV. I’ve owned two Pilots in my lifetime and have never been disappointed. The Pilot is Honda's flagship three-row SUV, prioritizing passenger capacity and on-road comfort. While the Pilot also offers AWD, its larger size and focus on family hauling make it less agile and less ideally suited for tighter trails. The Passport TrailSport, with its two-row configuration, shorter wheelbase, and dedicated off-road tuning, offers a more nimble and purpose-built experience for adventurers who don't need the third row. It strikes a better balance between everyday usability and genuine off-road capability than the larger Pilot. While the Pilot is bigger, the Passport feels more open for all passengers. That third-row configuration really compacts things for the Pilot, while the Passport just feels so much more open.
What’s new for the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport?
The Passport TrailSport trim only made its debut in 2022, but since then, it’s been the preferred trim. For the 2026 model year, the Passport TrailSport boasts the most attractive and aggressive-looking version that Honda has produced. The new front end just oozes ruggedness, and the new fender flares give it quite a bit of distinction.
The new Passport TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, featuring standard rugged elements, including an off-road-tuned suspension, expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities, robust steel underbody skid plates, and exposed bright orange heavy-duty recovery points.
Off the beaten path: Passport needed
Overlanding was a hot craze in the early part of this decade, and that trend hasn’t cooled off that much, as indicated by Honda’s dedication to making the Passport Trailsport its most rugged offering. It all starts with the tires and the underpinning. 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires improve grip on multiple surfaces, including gravel, dirt, and mud. The previous generation Passport seemed to have a bias toward on-the-road performance, and the tires and grip suffered. While the changes to the exterior may be cosmetic, they are also functional as the front fascia helps provide substantial underbody protection, too. When I said Honda went all in on the Passport ruggedness, I meant it.
But how does it drive?
Let’s say you aren’t going off the road. Is the Passport still viable? The answer to that is a resounding yes! On or off the road, the 3.5-liter V6 engine is punchy with 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Even better, there’s a 10-speed automatic transmission, which will challenge all competitors as the best transmission this entire model year. It has confident shifting, and there are paddle shifters available, but this transmission is so good that they are unnecessary. Besides, does anyone really use paddle shifters? The Passport's wheelbase is also longer and its track is wider, contributing to a more stable stance. It has a ground clearance of 8.3 inches.
Despite its ability to go off the road, it is well-behaved on pavement with a smooth ride. Is it as smooth as the Pilot? No. But if you intend to use the Passport as a daily driver, it will perform well.
Final thoughts
The 2026 Passport TrailSport effectively fills a gap that no other Honda SUV truly occupies: a capable, mid-size, two-row SUV with legitimate aspirations for off-road adventure. It provides the reliability and refinement Honda is known for, combined with a newfound ruggedness that sets it apart from the more pavement-oriented offerings.
But the Passport can still be a daily driver, just one that can handle changing road conditions with confidence. Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, summed the Passport up well. “We expect the authentic rugged design and off-road performance of the all-new 2026 Passport and Passport TrailSport to attract even more young, active, weekend adventurers to the Honda brand."
Why the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport is the Best Honda in Years first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 4, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
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